Season guide · Phuket · Thailand
Phuket in the late monsoon
August–October: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The wettest period, with long rainy spells and boat cancellations, but very quiet beaches and the Vegetarian Festival. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 57 rainy days across August–October.
Key facts
- Months
- August–October
- Temperatures
- 24°C (75°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 57
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the late monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 17 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 | 12.2 h | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 19 | 11.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 57 of the year's roughly 147 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the late monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- August: Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival at Chinese shrines in Phuket Town (seventh lunar month, August or September)
- September: Phuket Vegetarian Festival — processions and rituals at Chinese shrines (ninth lunar month, September or October)
- October: Phuket Vegetarian Festival (often October)
Good choices for the late monsoon
Aquarium · Phuket Town
Aquaria Phuket
Save it for a rainy afternoon in the monsoon season, and combine with the mall's restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Phuket Town
Thai Hua Museum
Housed in a 1930s Chinese-language school on Krabi Road, this museum tells the story of Phuket's Chinese immigrants, the tin-mining boom, Peranakan culture and local food, with displays in English.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in the late monsoon
- Koh Racha (About 30–40 minutes by speedboat) — Koh Racha Yai has clear water and white-sand bays such as Patok Bay, good for snorkelling and diving, and is quieter than Phi Phi.
- Koh Yao Noi (About 30–60 minutes by boat) — A quiet, mostly Muslim island in Phang Nga Bay with rubber plantations, rice fields, homestays and views of the limestone karsts — a glimpse of rural island life.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the late monsoon a good time to visit Phuket?
It is a trade-off: The wettest period, with long rainy spells and boat cancellations, but very quiet beaches and the Vegetarian Festival. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Phuket in the late monsoon?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 57 rainy days over the season.